Marinades: Info & Tips

In its simplest form, a marinade is a seasoned liquid. Beyond that, all is fair. Often there is an acidic liquid and many times, an oil component. As for the flavoring, it can be any variety of herbs, spices, seeds, condiments, sugar -- and the list just keeps on going.

"Tenderize" Food
When there is an acidic component to a marinade, such as lemon juice, it may also serve to tenderize the food.

Marinades containing acid (such as wine, vinegar, or acids from food such as tomatoes) will denature the food that it flavors. Whether a marinade "tenderizes" food is a source of debate. What the acid truly does is break down the enzymes of the food on its surface. Many people feel that therefore the food is tenderized. Others translate the feeling of denatured enzymes on the food's surface as "mushy" rather than a "tender" mouth-feel (particularly if it is a less densely packed food such as fish that has been marinating a long time).

How much a marinade affects the texture of a food is a result of intertwined factors:

The density of the food. If the food is dense, such as a carrot, the marinade is unlikely to affect its texture. If the food is less dense, such as a piece of fish, then a marinade may change its texture, depending on other factors.

The mass of the food. The texture of smaller piece of food, such as a minute steak, will be affected more by an acidic marinade than will a large piece of food, such as big beef roast.

The acidity of the marinade. The higher percentage of acid in the marinade, the more a food's texture will be affected.

As vinaigrettes often contain a higher percentage of oil than a marinade would, you might add more of an acid such as vinegar or lime, lemon, or orange juice.

Also, add a few more herbs or spices to punch it up some. Remember, you need more flavor in the 1/4 cup of marinade that a steak sits in than you need in the 1/4 cup tossed with a few cups of salad greens.